A 


SHOUT  TREATISE 


ON  THE 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST, 

IN  AND  THROUGH  THE 


ORDER  OF  THE  FEMALE. 


BY  F.  W.  EVANS, 

NEW  LEBANON,  N.  Y. 


“ No  faith  is  more  easily  misunderstood  and  misrepresented  than  that  of  the 
Shakers.  The  metaphysical  explanation  of  it  is  so  different  from  popular  appre- 
hension. that  great  pains,  and  some  talent,  in  conducting  a moral  analysis  are 
necessary,  to  do  justice  to  this  remarkable  sect.”— Dr.  Holley. 


BOSTON: 

BAZIN  & CHANDLER,  PRINTERS,  37  CORNHILL. 

1853. 


TO  THE  READER, 


Among  all  the  heretical  doctrines  of  the  Shakers,  (and  they  are  by 
means  few  or  small ; for  after  the  manner  that  men  call  heresy,  we  worst 
the  “ dual  God  of  our  fathers  ” and  mothers),  no  one  has  given  so  mu 
offence  to  the  orthodox  or  dominant  religious  sects,  as  that  of  the  seco 
coming  of  Christ  in  and  through  Mother  Ann  Lee. 

This  article  of  our  faith  has  proved  a realgod-send  to  our  enemies, 
fact,  we  do  not  see  but  that  it  would  have  been  as  difficult  for  them  as  for 
to  have  prospered  without  it. 

Their  effective  charge,  that  we  believe  Mother  Ann  Lee  was  Christ,  a 
consequently  that  we  worship  a woman,  is  based  upon  this  part  of  c 
religious  system. 

The  following  pages  are  devoted  to  a succinct  illustration  of  our  r 
views  upon  this  fundamental  principle  of  Shakerism , which  we  hold  to 
synonymous  with  true,  genuine  Christianity. 

And  we  hereby  dedicate  it  to  the  “ Bereans,”  that  is,  to  the  “more  1 
ble  ” of  our  “ fellow  citizens  of  the  world,”  who  are  willing  to  “ hear” 
fore  they  “ strike,” — those  who  “search  the  Scriptures  daily,”  and  n 
judge  and  “ prove  all  things  ” with  a determination  to  “ hold  fast  tl 
which  is  good  ” and  true,  not  following  even  the  fashionable  “ multiti 
to  do  evil.” 

F.  W.  Evans 

New  Lebanon , N.  Y..  April  1,  1853. 


TREATISE. 


SECTION  I. 

POSITIONS  AND  PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS. 

God. — What  is  God?  God  is  Spirit, — the  Essence  of  all 
worlds  and  of  all  existences. 

There  is  an  element  termed  God , which  is  the  inner  life  of 
every  being  and  element  (that  is  good)  in  all  worlds. 

I There  is  also  an  element  termed  devil , or  evil , which  is  the 
__  inner  life  of  every  being  and  element  that  is  evil  in  ail  worlds. 

There  are  elements  within  elements,  or  worlds  within  worlds, 

: all  peopled  with  organized  intelligences,  — from  the  gross  outer 
world  or  element  in  which  we  live,  to  that  most  subtile  of  all 
worlds, — the  highest  heaven  of  heavens,  — this  pure  sphere, 
v in  the  common  use  of  the  term,  is  often  named  God;  as  when 
X Pope  says  : 

u Lo,  the  poor  Indian,  whose  untutor’d  mind 
Sees  God  in  clouds,  or  hears  him  in  the  wind  ; ” 

- whereas,  in  truth,  it  is  but  the  world  or  element  in  which  God 
and  the  most  spiritual  order  of  beings  exist.  And,  inasmuch  as 
God  is  Spirit,  so  all  things  and  beings  are  spiritually  good  in 
y proportion  as  they  approximate  to  this  Esse  of  all  essences. 

We  therefore  may  consider  ourselves  as  in  the  ends  or  ulti- 
A mates  of  creation  ; and,  as  we  increase  in  spirituality,  our  pro- 
•"  gress  is  God-ward ; and,  as  we  increase  in  sensuality,  we  retro- 
grade  from  Him.  “ To  be  carnally  minded,  is  death,  but  to  be 
spiritually  minded  is  life  and  peace.” 


P 395 13 


4 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


The  first  sphere  emanating  from  God,  and  the  nearest  to 
Him,  is  the  Christ  sphere  ; and  all  those  Beings  who  exist  in  this 
sphere,  element  or  world  are  properly,  and  in  the  highest  sense, 
Sons  and  Daughters  of  God.  They  are  Christs  to  other 
worlds.  This  is  that  order  of  Beings  referred  to  in  the  following 
Scripture,  where  the  Lord,  addressing  Job,  in  reference  to  the 
creation  of  the  earth,  says, 

“ Gird  up  now  thy  loins  like  a man ; for  I will  demand  of 
thee,  and  answer  thou  me.  Where  wast  thou  when  I laid  the 
foundations  of  the  earth  ? Declare,  if  thou  hast  understanding. 
Who  hath  laid  the  measures  thereof?  if  thou  knowest ; or  who 
hath  stretched  the  line  upon  it  ? Whereupon  are  the  founda- 
tions thereof  fastened  ? or  who  laid  the  corner-stone  thereof  ? 
When  the  morning  stars  (Daughters)  sang  together , and  all  the 
Sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy  V ’ (J ob  xxxviii.  3 — 7.) 

We  see  also  that  there  is  deep  spiritual  meaning  in  the  words 
which  Christ  (through  Jesus)  addressed  to  his  Father,  when  he 
said,  And  now,  0 Father,  glorify  thou  me  with  thine  own 
self,  with  the  glory  which  I had  with  thee  before  the  world  was." 
(John  xvii.  5)  ; As  also  where  he  affirms,  “ Before  Abraham 
was,  I am;”  (Johnviii.  58);  which,  with  many  other  similar  pas- 
sages, are  supposed  to  establish  the  Deity  of  Christ'. 

The  glorified  Spirits  of  this  exalted  sphere  are  all  in  the  like- 
ness of  their  Eternal  Parents,  each  of  them  being  the  “ express 
image  of  the  Person’'  or  Being  of  God.  (See  Heb.  i.  3.) 

No  immediate  communication  between  the  inhabitants  of  this 
world  and  the  “ Person’’  of  God  ever  did  or  can  take  place  ; as 
is  testified  by  the  Apostle  Paul.  Speaking  of  the  King  of  kings, 
and  Lord  of  lords,  he  saith,  “ Who  only  hath  immortality, 
dwelling  in  the  light  which  no  man  can  approach  unto  ; whom 
no  man  hath  seen , or  can  see."  (Tim.  vi.  16.)  To  which  agree 
the  words  of  John,  “ No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time.  The 
only  begotten  Son  which  is  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  he  hath 
declared  Him.”  (John  i.  18.) 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


There  is  a spirit  world , which  stands  in  as  close  relation  to  this 
world  as  does  the  soul  of  man  to  his  body.  And  into  that  world 
all  souls  enter  at  death. 

Every  soul  is  an  organized  substance  or  being;  and,  in  all 
respects  and  particulars,  retains  (in  the  spirit  world)  not  only  its 
identity,  but  also  its  character , just  as  it  would,  had  it  remained 
in  the  body  and  lived  in  this  world ; and  continues  in  an  equally 
probationary,  changeable,  and  peccable  state,  as  when  upon  the 
earth. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  world  come  into  being  first  in  a natural 
or  earthly  order,  “ a little  lower  than  the  Angels/’  and  a little 
above  the  rest  of  the  animal  creation.  Yet  they  are  possessed  of 
a latent  capacity  for  rising  into  other  and  more  spiritual 
orders  or  spheres.  (See  Heb.,  ii.  7 — 8.) 

This  capability  primitively  inhered  in  them,  and  was  neither 
acquired  nor  lost  by  their  fall  from  a state  of  innocency. 

True,  man  fell  from,  and  perverted  the  natural  order ; but  he 
could  not  fall  from  an  order  — the  spiritual  — into  which  he  had 
not  risen,  and  towards  which  he  had  made  but  little  progress. 

The  time  for  the  introduction  and  establishment  of  the  spiritual 
order  was  immutably  fixed ; (Matt.  xxiv.  36  ;)  and  Christ,  both 
in  his  first  and  second  appearing,  came  at  the  time  appointed  by 
the  Father  ; and,  although  mankind  had  never  sinned,  yet,  as 
surely  as  grain  progresses  towards  the  harvest,  would  they  all 
have  steadily  progressed  towards  the  spiritual  order,  by  the  cul- 
tivation and  development  of  their  latent  spiritual  senses  and  fac- 
ulties, consequent  upon  a daily  intercourse  with  intelligences  of 
their  own  order  in  that  spirit  world  that  is  immediately  connected 
with  this. 

Through  the  wickedness  of  mankind,  this  communication  be- 
came gradually  and  increasingly  interrupted,  and  (finally)  almost 
entirely  lost. 

Man  turned  his  soul  earthward  ; and,  by  sensuality,  became 
imbruted  and  too  gross  to  hold  profitable  relation  or  intelligent 


6 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


intercourse  with  the  invisible  world.  It  was  therefore  a wise 
provision,  that  spirit  communion,  became  lost  by  man  ; for  the 
inhabitants  of  earth  increased  in  evil  as  they  increased  in  know- 
ledge and  experience  ; and  those  who  were  out  of  the  body  were 
no  less  wickedly  disposed  than  they  had  been  while  in  it.  These 
therefore  would  have  initiated  others,  younger  than  themselves, 
into  their  own  experiences  ; [this  very  thing  was  one  of  the  great 
procuring  causes  of  the  flood]  ; so  that  the  principal  design  and 
effect  of  the  destruction  of  the  antediluvians  was  the  complete 
separation  of  the  two  worlds,  with  the  exception  of  those  few  who 
were  saved  in  the  ark,  and  who  stood  in  a relation  to  the  Divine 
Order.  Therefore,  none  of  those  numerous  hosts,  the  imagination 
of  whose  every  heart  was  only  evil  continually,  could  any  longer 
have  personal  intercourse  with,  or  exert  a direct  influence  upon, 
the  inhabitants  of  this  world  ; thereby  to  transmit  their  knowledge 
of  wickedness  to  succeeding  generations . 

This  was  also  the  reason  why  witches  and  wizards  were  not 
permitted  to  live  amongst  the  children  of  Israel.  These  were 
not  by  any  means  remarkable  for  their  wickedness,  any  more 
than  are  the  spiritual  mediums  of  the  present  day.  But,  as  in 
the  latter  case,  they  were  distinguished  from  the  mass  of  the 
community  by  their  ability  to  receive  and  convey  to  others  the 
ideas  and  sensations  of  disembodied  souls  in  the  spirit  world. 

It  was  not  their  possession  of  such  an  organization  or  powers  as 
made  a familiarity  with  spirits  possible  and  easy,  that  rendered 
them  obnoxious  to  the  sentence  of  death  — extermination;  for 
then  had  the  true  prophets  also  been  destroyed  by  the  law  against 
witchcraft.  But  it  was  the  fact  of  their  using  this  spiritual 
ability  for  other  than  strictly  religious  objects  and  purposes)  and 
not  in  and  under  the  direction  of  the  Divine  Order,  by  being  in 
subjection  to  the  Church  of  that  dispensation. 

For,  be  it  remembered,  that,  the  Jewish  was  a religious 
nation , yet  not  (as  an  anti-Christian  nation)  possessing  hundreds 
of  religions  ; for  “ the  Lord  their  God  was  one  Lord,”  and 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


7 


they  had  one  faith,  and  but  one  mode  of  expressing  it.  And 
their  religion  was  founded  upon  and  consisted  in  their  obedience  to 
continued  revelations  from  the  spirit  world  ; which  revelations 
came  through,  and  were  designed  to  effect  the  purposes  of  the 
Divine  will  and  appointment. 

The  Lord,  when  speaking  to  Moses  respecting  the  cherubims 
(representing  male  and  female)  that  covered  the  mercy-seat,  or 
lid  of  the  Ark,  (of  which  the  Apostle  Paul  confessed  that  he 
could  “ not  speak  particularly,”  for  the  time  had  not  come  that 
it  could  be  understood  by  any,  except  “ in  part,'9  i.e.  in  the 
male  order,)  said,  “ There  will  I meet  with  thee;  and  I will 
commune  with  thee  from  above  the  mercy-seat,  from  between  the 
two  cherubims , which  are  upon  the  ark  of  the  testimony,  of  all 
things  which  I will  give  thee  in  commandment  unto  the  children 
of  Israel.”  (Ex.  xxv.  22.) 

Herein  was  established  the  only  place  and  manner  in  which 
the  whole  Jewish  nation,  or  any  individual  thereof,  was  to  look 
for  a reliable  spiritual  manifestation  and  the  revelation  of  the 
Divine  will  to  them,  by  which  to  be  directed  aright,  and  with 
perfect  infallibility,  in  all  their  incomings  and  outgoings. 
Consequently  it  was  not  until  they  had  sinned  against  God,  (as 
in  the  iustance  of  Saul,)  and  thereby  lost  their  rectitude  and  also 
his  blessing  and  protection,  that  they  had  any  occasion  or  desire 
to  “ seek  unto  them  that  had  familiar  spirits,  and  unto  wizards 
that  peep  and  that  mutter,”  instead  of  seeking  unto  their  God 
in  the  order  of  his  own  appointment.  For,  if  these  spoke  only 
what  the  spirits  of  good,  in  the  order  of  the  cherubims  would 
say,  it  was  unnecessary  ; and,  if  they  spoke  not  according  to  the 
revelations  through  that  order , it  was  because  there  was  no  true 
“ light  in  them.”  (Is.  viii.  19.) 

The  law  of  Moses  was,  “Thou  shalt  not  suffer  a witch  to 
live.’’  (Exodus  xviii.  22.)  Again,  “ There  shall  not  be  found 
among  you  any  one  that  maketh  his  son  or  his  daughter  to  pass 
through  the  fire,  or  that  useth  divination,  or  an  observer  of  times, 


8 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


or  an  enchanter,  or  a witch,  or  a charmer,  or  a consul  ter  with 
familiar  spirits,  or  a wizard,  or  a necromancer,  for  all  these 
things  are  an  abomination  unto  the  Lord.”  (Deut.  xviii.  10,  11.) 
Also,  “ Regard  not  them  that  have  familiar  spirits ; neither  seek 
after  wizards  to  be  defiled  by  them.  I am  the  Lord  your  God.” 
(Lev.  xix.  31.) 

This  law,  in  spirit , would  stand  against  all  the  spiritual 
mediums  of  our  own  day,  and  those  who  seek  unto  and  follow 
after  them,  (if  professors  of  Christianity)  were  it  not  that  the 
Church  of  the  third  Dispensation , in  which  the  world  now  is,  is 
occupied  by  “ the  man  of  sin.”  And  hence,  as  there  is  “ no  judge” 
(or  true  church)  “ in  Israel,”  (Christendom,)  it  is  proper  for 
“ every  man  to  do  that  which  is  right  in  his  own  eyes,”  until 
such  time  as  a true  u Mother  in  Israel/’  after  the  similitude  of 
Deborah,  (see  Judges  v.  7,)  has  space  and  opportunity  to  deliver 
the  children  of  Israel  (professed  Christians)  from  the  bondage  of 
the  Canaanites  (their  sins),  and  establish  them  again  in  their  own 
land, — a Church  standing  in  the  Divine  Order  having  the  ark 
of  salvation,  containing  the  Urim  and  Thummim,  the  heavenly 
manna,  the  ever-budding  rod,  and  over  and  above  them  all,  the 
cherubims  of  glory , from  “ between”  whom,  should  flow  the 
“ word  of  God  that  is  quick  and  powerful,  sharper  than  a two- 
edged  sword,  piercing  even  to  the  dividing  asunder  the  joints  and 
the  marrow,  and  the  soul  and  spirit,” — a continual  Divine  reve- 
lation from  the  invisible  world,  that  should  unite  the  Church  on 
earth  to  the  “ Church  of  the  first-born,”  or  first  Christian 
Church  in  the  spirit  world. 

After  the  Christian  dispensation  was  ushered  in,  a greater 
degree  and  measure  of  wickedness  could  be  attained  to,  by  the 
human  race  than  was  before  possible  ; “ the  man  of  sin  ” could 
then  become  still  more  sinful,  as  the  light  to  sin  against,  was 
greater. 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


9 


The  perversion  of  the  first  Christian  Church  on  earth  is  com- 
plete ; — a total  apostacy  has  taken  place;  antichrist  reigns. 
And,  in  the  progress  of  the  second  Christian  Dispensation,  there 
will  be  exhibited  those  entire  principles  of  ’evil  that  hate  and 
oppose  good  and  truth  because  they  are  good  and  truth , and  not 
through  ignorance  or  mistaken  views. 

These  are  the  Gog  and  Magog  powers,  in  and  under  the  influ- 
ence of  which,  reprobate  spirits,  in  the  end  of  this,  the  fourth 
Dispensation,  the  Sabbath  of  the  world,  (after  failing  to  corrupt 
that  Church  as  they  had  corrupted  the  Church  of  every  pre- 
vious dispensation)  will  say,  “ I will  go  up  to  the  land  of 
unwalled  villages:  I will  go  to  them  that  are  at  rest,  that  dwell 
safely,  all  of  them  dwelling  without  walls,” — the  war  spirit , — 
“ and  having  neither  bars  nor  gates,  to  take  a spoil,  and  to  take 
a prey,  to  turn  my  hand  upon  the  desolate  places  that  are  now 
inhabited,  and  upon  the  people  that  are  gathered  out  of  the 
nations , which  have  gotten  cattle  and  goods,  that  dwell  in  the 
midst  of  the  land.”  (Ezek.  xxxviii.  11,  12.) 

This  will  terminate  in  the  expulsion  of  evil  from  this  part  of 
God’s  creation — the  earth;  and  good%and  truth  will  become 
incarnated  in  and  pervade  the, whole  world ; for,  after  this, — 
the  final  battle,  between  Michael  and  his  angels,  and  the  devil 
and  his  angels, — good  and  evil, — there  will  be  no  place  found 
for  the  latter ; “for  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  will  cover  the 
earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea.” 

There  is  a natural  and  a spiritual  worlds  and  a natural  and  a 
spiritual  body ; yet  those  in  the  one  cannot  with  the  exercise  of 
their  own  proper  senses,  perceive  those  in  the  other.  Spirit  can- 
not see  matter,  nor  can  matter  see  spirit.  The  natural  senses 
can  only  take  cognizance  of  things  and  beings  in  the  natural 
world;  and  in  like  manner,  the  spiritual,  of  things  and  beings  in 
the  spiritual  world. 


10 


SECOND  APPEARING-  OF  CHRIST. 


It  is  therefore  an  unchangeable  law,  that  a union  between  in- 
telligences in  these  two  spheres  can  only  occur  by. those  in  the 
natural  sphere  becoming  abstracted  from  earthly  things,  and  their 
spiritual  senses  being  developed;  —or  by  those  in  the  spirit 
sphere  clothing  themselves  with  material  elements  whereby  they 
can  be  discerned  by  mortals  with  their  natural  senses,  as  were 
the  angels  who  appeared  to  Abraham  and  Lot.  This  latter  was 
the  usual  mode  of  intercommunication  between  the  two  spheres 
in  and  during  the  Jewish  economy,  even  so  late  as  the  appearing 
of  Jesus  to  his  disciples.  But,  at  and  after  the  day  of  Pentecost, 
the  former  mode  more  often  prevailed. 

The  Materialism  engendered  among  mankind  by  the  apos - 
tacy  of  the  Primitive  Christian  Churchy  with  its  systematic 
teaching  of  no  present  Divine  revelations , and  non-intercourse 
with  the  spirit  world  in  general,  has  well-nigh  destroyed  all  faith 
among  men,  and  their  spiritual  senses  have  become  so  weak  and 
feeble,  for  want  “ of  use,”  that  they  only  exist  at  all  in  a dead 
or  dormant  condition. 

Therefore,  when  the  time  had  arrived,  by  reason  of  Christ 
having  made  his  second  appearance,  and  the  true  spiritual  Church 
of  Cod  being  fully  established  upon  earth,  for  a more  intimate 
and  living  relation  to  be  effected  between  the  natural  and  spiritual 
spheres,  there  was  no  other  practical  means  of  this  intercommu- 
nion between  men  and  spirits  becoming  restored,  than  for  the 
latter  to  descend  and  operate  upon  the  material  elements  ; so 
that  the  infidel  religionists , and  the  materialists  whom  they  had 
made , could  both,  like  Thomas,  have  the  evidence  of  their  earthly 
physical  senses. 

Hence  the  rapping  (natural  sounds)  and  the  moving  of  matter, 
together  with  most  that  has  been  seen  and  heard  by  the  world, 
come  under  this  head;  and  are  standing  witnesses  both  of  the  low 
state  of  vital  religion  in  the  Churches,  and  of  the  want  of  true 
spirituality  among  all  classes  of  individuals  in  Christendom. 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


11 


SECTION  II. 

Messiah. — It  was  known  and  declared,  from  the  very  begin- 
ning of  mans  aberration  from  the  path  of  right,  that  a u Re- 
deemer would  come  to  Zion,  to  turn  away  ungodliness  from 
Jacob.’' 

A Messiah  was  foreseen  and  expected.  But  what  he  would 
be,  whence  and  how  he  would  come,  and  his  object  and  office  in 
coming,  are,  to  this  day,  subjects  of  incessant  controversy  and 
dispute,  even  in  relation  to  his  first  appearing.  And,  where 
that  is  settled,  the  second  coming  of  the  Messiah  opens  another 
field  of  inquiry  as  fruitful  in  human  theories,  opinions  arid  sys- 
tems, as  the  first. 

Believers  (Shakers)  have  their  peculiar  views,  and  may  also 
be  allowed  to  “show  their  opinions.”  And,  as  such  opinions 
have  been  made  a 'practical  matter  by  these  “ peculiar  people,” 
the  public  can  judge  of  them  by  their  effects. 

The  recent  increase  of  spiritualism  among  mankind  induces  us 
to  hope,  and  encourages  us  to  believe,  that  the  time  is  propitious 
for  a more  intelligent  and  candid  consideration,  and  a more  just 
appreciation  of  our  faith  upon  this  most  essential  doctrine  of 
Christianity,  than  has  hitherto  been  accorded  thereto. 

Our  prescribed  limits  will  not  permit  us  to  go  fully  into  all 
the  evidences — direct  and  indirect,  rational  and  scriptural — in 
our  possession,  amounting,  as  we  believe,  to  a perfect  solution  anc[ 
decision  of  this  vexed  and  knotty  question  ; but  we  simply  state 
our  views,  and  also  our  readiness  to  meet  all  candid  inquirers 
upon  the  subject  at  any  suitable  time  and  place. 

We  feel  quite  as  well  prepared  to  prove,  by  reason  and  from 
the  Scriptures,  that  Christ  has  made  his  second  appearing  in  and 
through  the  order  of  the  female , as  any  person  can  possibly  be 
to  prove  that  Christ  has  made  his  first  appearance  in  and  through 
the  order  of  the  male. 


12 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


SECTION  III. 

The  premises  upon  which  all  our  proof  of  this  important  foun- 
dation principle  of  our  faith  rests,  is  the 

Order  of  the  Deity,  or  Godhead. 

All  true  doctrines  must  rest  upon  some  self-evident  axioms. 
And  we  confidently  affirm,  that,  if  there  be  a self-evident  truth  in 
existence,  it  is  the  one  that  would  first  present  itself  to  the  mind 
of  any  unbiassed  ^orthodox-educated  person,  respecting  the 
order  of  the  Deity  or  Godhead. 

Any  human  being  on  this  earth,  however  degraded  and  igno- 
rant, if  asked  what  was  his  first  simple  impression  respecting  a 
Supreme  Being,  as  to  whether  it  was  a neuter,  a male,  a female, 
or  three  males,  or  three  females , would,  without  any  hesitation, 
answer  truly  and  correctly,  and  in  perfect  accordance  with 
Shaker  faith ; provided  he  was  not  too  much  astounded  at  the 
absurdity  of  so  ridiculous  a question  being  asked  at  all . Should 
the  question,  Are  you  alive  ? be  put  to  each  individual  of  a 
thousand  men,  we  should  not  look  for  a more  uniform  answer. 

Nothing  but  authority  (the  taking  “ authority  for  truth,  instead 
of  truth  for  authority”)  and  constant  drilling,  ever  yet  implanted 
(if  indeed  the  thing  be  possible,  which  is  matter  of  doubt,)  the 
belief  in  any  sane  human  mind,  that  there  were  three  male  per- 
sons constituting  one  Deity — a Trinity.  Ibeason  and  Scripture 
# are  alike  violated  and  outraged  by  so  preposterous  a conception  : 
both  being  equally  clear  upon  this  important  subject. 

The  great  Book — the  Universe — teaches  in  language  not  to  be 
misinterpreted,  (except  through  the  most  consummate  ignorance, 
or  gross  carelessness,)  that  the  Fountain  whence  all  things  origi- 
nally flowed  is  dual — Male  and  Female — God . 

Earths  and  minerals  are  positive  and  negative . Both  sexes 
are  “ clearly  seen,”  being  manifest  in  the  vegetable  kingdom. 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


13 


While  all  animal  life , from  the  polypus  up  to  man,  the  lord  of 
creation,  exhibits  a gradually-increasing,  distinct,  and  positive 
development  of  the  two  principles,  male  wadi  female. 

Therefore,  Paul  but  spoke  a universally-well-known,  simple, 
and  self-evident  truth  when  he  said,  “ The  invisible  things  of 
God,  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,  are  dearly  seen , being 
understood  by  the  things  that  are  made , even  his  eternal  power 
and  Godhead .”  (Horn.  i.  20.) 

The  eternal  creative  power  of  Deity,  proceeding  from  the  order 
of  the  Godhead,  is  the  most  “ clearly  seen  ” and  distinctly  repre- 
sented and  demonstrated  in  nature,  by  the  procreative  power  of 
the  male  and  female  principles,  as  existing  and  eternally  produc- 
ing beings  and  things  in  their  own  image  and  likeness,  or  after 
their  own  kind,  throughout  all  the  ranks  of  creation. 

These  two  principles,  then,  are  th q foundations  of  all  worlds — 
natural  and  spiritual. 

Therefore  Wisdom  says  to  man : u Receive  my  instruction 
and  not  silver ; and  knowledge  rather  than  choice  gold.  The 
Lord  possessed  me  in  the  beginning  of  his  way , before  his  works 
of  old.  I was  set  up  from  everlasting , from  the  beginning , or 
ever  the  earth  was.  When  lie  prepared  the  heavens,  I was  there, 
When  he  set  a compass  upon  the  face  of  the  deep  ; when  he  esta- 
blished the  clouds  above ; when  he  strengthened  the  foundations 
of  the  deep  ; when  he  gave  the  sea  his  decree,  that  the  waters 
should  not  pass  his  commandment ; when  he  appointed  the 
foundations  of  the  earth  ; — then  was  I by  him  as  one  brought  up 
with  him ; and  I was  daily  his  delight,  rejoicing  always  before 
him.”  (Prov.  viii.  10,  25 — 30.) 

These  are  the  breathings,  and  this  is  the  voice  of  Eternal 
Wisdom,  the  Mother,  or  Bearing  Spirit  of  all  Creation.  And 
She  further  saith,  “ He  that  sinneth  against  me  wrongeth  his 
own  soul : and  all  they  that  hate  me  love  death.”  (Prov.  viii  30. 
And  truly  it  is  so  ; for  those  who  disbelieve  in,  and  reject  Her 
2 


14 


SECOND  APPEARING  OE  CHRIST, 


who  was  from  everlasting,  and  before  all  created  things,  do  so 
far  deny  God,  and  therefore  “ they  are  without  God  and  without 
hope  in  the  world  semi-atheists,  the  practical  effect  of  whose 
atheism  is,  that  they  “ love  death  for  “ the  soul  that  sinneth, 
it  shall  die.” 

And  the  whole  body  of  Trinitarians  are  convicted,  out  of  their 
own  mouths,  as  being  sinners,- — Christian  sinners — destitute 
alike  of  the  true  knowledge  and  salvation  of  God.  For  44  into 
a malicious  soul  Wisdom  will  not  enter  : nor  dwell  in  a body 
that  is  subject  to  sin.”  (Wisdom  i.  4.) 

Thus  it  appears,  that  those  who  reject  their  Heavenly  Mother , 
do  thereby  reject  true  wisdom.  And  this  accounts  for  the  self 
evident  want  of  ivisdom  in  all  human  governments  and  societies, 
civil  and  religious.  With  perfect  consistency,  therefore,  a cer- 
tain great  philosopher  sent  his  son  to  a Convention  of  Diploma- 
tists of  all  nations,  to  44  see  with  how  little  wisdom  the  world 
was  governed.” 

Another  necessary  consequence  'of  sinning  against  and  hating 
Wisdom , the  Mother  Spirit  in  the  Godhead,  is  the  degradation 
and  oppression  of  woman. 

By  this,  the  female  part  c.f  creation  is  cut  off  from  all  minis- 
tration from  their  proper  Head  and  Lead  in  their  own  order ; 
and  are  subjected  entirely  and  exclusively  to  the  male  influence. 

The  lost  and  fallen  world,  although  numbering,  in  its  popula- 
tion, one-half  females,  knows  only  male  rulers  and  governors  : — 
.male  priests  and  religious  teachers ; male  doctors  and  physicians ; 
masters  males,  females  slaves. 

Thus  the  curse  pronounced  upon  woman,  that  her  44  desire,” 
or  lust,  44  should  be  to  her  husband,”  and  that  44  he  should  rule 
over  her,’7  is  fully  accomplished ; and  the  promise,  that  she 
should  be  saved  from  \_not  44  delivered  in”]  44  child-bearing,” 
(1  Tim.  ii.  15,)  and  thereby  from  the  iron  rule  of  man  ; is  also 
fulfilled  to  the  daughters  of  Zion)  who  own  and  yield  obedience 
to  the  Mother  Spirit  in  Deity. 


SECOND  APPEARING  OE  CHRIST. 


15 


An  emanation  from  the  elements  of  redemption  moving  in 
Zion  is  being  felt  in  the  earth,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  increasing 
agitation  upon  the  subject  of  the  Rights  of  Woman , the  Rights 
of  Marriage,  the  Rights  of  Property, — the  Rights  of  Man , and 
many  other  reforms  of  the  day  ; all  of  which  have,  and  can  only 
have,  their  consummation  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ’s  Second  Ap- 
pearing, which  is  based  upon  the  recognition  of  the  true  order  of 
the  Godhead  as  Male  and  Female, — an  J Eternal  Heavenly 
Father,  and  an  Eternal  Heavenly  Mother . For  “in  Christ 
are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge.”  (Col.  ii.  3 ) 

In  the  history  of  the  creation  of  man,  as  given  by  Moses,  the 
true  Order  of  the  Creator  is  unmistakably  set  forth  : — u And 
God  said,  Let  us  make  man  in  our  own  image , after  our  own 
likeness . So  God  created  man  in  his  own  image  and  after  his 
own  likeness.  In  the  image  of  God  created  he  him,  male  and 
female  created  he  them.”  (Gen.  i.  26,  27.) 

Here  we  see  that  the  Scriptures  are  no  less  plain  than  is  Na- 
ture herself  in  showing,  beyond  the  possibility  of  a doubt,  that 
the  Order  of  the  Deity  is  Male  and  Female . 

Thus  man  was  placed  as  God’s  representative  in  this  outer 
world,  and  was  endowed  with  the  power  of  creation , through  the 
male  and  female  principles  of  which  he  was  constituted.  And  in 
this  consists  by  far  the  most  important  part  of  the  image  and 
likeness  of  God. 

At  a lecture  recently  delivered  in  New  York  city,  upon  Mar- 
riage, the  lecturer  said,  he  “did  not  know  in  what  the  image  of 
God  in  man  consisted.”  We  are  not  in  that  unfortunate  pre- 
dicament. 

Yet  let  no  one  suppose  that  we  hold  to  this  view  of  Deity 
merely  because  it  is  so  plainly  set  forth  in  the  Scriptures.  On 
the  contrary,  we  know  that  the  Scriptures  are  a faithful  record, 
because  they  disclose  truths  which  existed  anterior  to,  and  inde- 
pendent of  them  ; that  is,  instead  of  these  truths  being  proved 
by  the  Scriptures , the  Scriptures  are  proved  by  these  truths. 


16 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


And,  as  no  person  would  venture  the  assertion,  that  there  are 
no  truths  but  what  are  contained  in  the  Bible,  so  neither  should 
any  deny  that  there  may  be  other  Scriptures  given  to  record  and 
declare  those  truths. 

Paul  did  not  refer  to  Scriptures , to  prove  the  order  of  the 
Godhead,  but  to  the  Universe , which  had  proceeded  from  God, 
and  was  a manifestation  of  and  from  his  own  being. 

A Trinity  is  an  innovation  upon  the  theology  of  the  human 
race.  All  mankind — from  the  most  enlightened  nations  and 
classes  down  to  the  most  benighted  heathens — believed  in  the 
duality  of  the  Deity,  until  the  creation  of  the  Trinity  by  anti - 
christ . However  distorted  their  views  of  the  character  of  the 
Supreme  Being  might  be,  this  one  truth , that  God  was  Male 
and  Female , still  remained  to  them. 

It  is  an  axiom  even  with  the  Chinese  philosophers,  that  the 
world  was  created  by  the  male  and  female  principles. 

It  remained  for  the  smoke  from  the  bottomless  pit  of  anti- 
christian  sin,  ignorance,  and  spiritual  darkness,  to  becloud  and 
obscure  this  most  beautiful,  simple,  and  self-evident  of  all  truths. 

Mosheim,  in  his  “Ecclesiastical  History,”  says,  that  “ The- 
ophilus,  Bishop  of  Antioch,  was  the  f/st  who  ever  made  use  of 
the  word  Trinity , to  express  the  distinction  of  what  divines  call 
persons  in  the  Godhead.’’  And  Maclaine  saith,  “ The  Christian 
Church  is  very  little  obliged  to  him  for  his  invention.  The  use 
of  this  and  other  unscriptural  terms,  to  which  men  attach  either 
no  ideas  at  all,  or  false  ones,  has  wounded  charity  and  peace, 
without  promoting  truth  and  knowledge.  It  has  produced  here- 
sies of  the  very  worst  kind.”  Mosheim  continues:  “There 
were  deplorable  divisions  kindled,  throughout  the  Christian 
worlds  on  the  subject  of  threr  persons  in  the  Godhead.  So  that 
the  emperor  Constantine,  seeing  the  flames  of  controversy  daily 
spreading  through  the  empire,  called  the  Council  of  Nice  to  set- 
tle the  question.  At  this  Council,  the  Emperor — the  great 


SECOND  APPEARING  OE  CHRIST. 


IT 


c<  infallible  ” head  of  the  Church — took  owe  side,  and,  five  months 
after,  changed  to  the  other;  and  the  Trinity  became  an  orthodox 
doctrine  by  vote  and  by  authority.” 

And  thus  men  have  worshipped,  and  still  worship,  a triune 
monster,  having  no  existence,  and  whose  “ likeness  ” or  66  image  ** 
does  not  exist,  and  therefore  cannot  be  “clearly  seen  ” in  any 
part  of  the  universe  of  God,  visible  or  invisible. 

All  the  religious  sentiments  of  the  ancients,  whether  written  or 
oral,  attest  the  principle  of  male  and  female  in  Deity.  Not 
only  do  the  Gentile  records  universally  confirm  this  fact,  but  in 
the  Hebrew  writings  and  Scriptures  also  the  same  truth  is  main 
tained. 

Philo,  a Jewish  writer,  contemporary  with  Christ  and  his 
Apostles,  asserts  this  principle  in  the  most  unequivocal  and  posi- 
tive manner.  He  repeatedly  represents  Wisdom  as  “ the  Spouse 
of  God,  and  Mother  of  all  things.  ” “ God,  ” he  says,  “ we  may 

rightly  ca  l the  Father,  and  Wisdom  the  Mother , of  the  Uni- 
verse. ” 

These  views  did  not  conflict  with  the  general  impression  of  the 
Jewish  mind  ; for  it  is  now  admitted  that  their  sacred  name  of 
God — Jehovah — implies  the  same  thing — male  and  female . 

Thus,  Michelange  Lanci,  who  for  many  years  was  librarian  of 
the  National  Library,  at  Rome,  (in  which  it  is  supposed  there  are 
moretancient  ecclesiastial  records  than  in  any  other  library  in  the 
known  world,)  and  who  spent  much  labor  in  their  examination, 
asserts,  that,  “according  to  the  Hebrew  Scriptures,  where  God 
declares  the  Divine  name  and  order,  or  Jehovah,  it  means  (lite- 
rally) He— She.  ” 

The  same  thing  is  also  confirmed  by  the  Egyptian  hieroglyphic 
writings,  and  by  the  light  of  Egyptian  theosophy,  and  its  symbol- 
ical language.  (See  Lanci,  in  Nineteenth  Century,  pp.  179  to 
181  &c.) 


2* 


18 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


The  secret , then,  of  the  awful  cabalistic  word  Jehovah  of  the 
Hebrews,  which  was  so  sacred  that  it  might  not  be  pronounced, 
except  in  a whisper,  was  the  Dual  Order  of  Deity ; which  order 
could  never  be  fully  known  by  those  who  had  received  the  “ mark 
of  the  beast  ” — Catholicism,  or  of  the  “ image  of  the  beast  ” — 
Protestantism,  until  the  second  appearing  of  Christ,  in  and 
through  the  order  of  the  female,  should  reveal  it.  It  is  one  of 
the  mysteries  of  godliness  to  be  unfolded  only  in  and  by  the 
sounding  of  the  seventh  or  everlasting  Gospel  trumpet. 

We  have  thus  assayed  to  substantiate  onr  first  foundation  prin- 
ciple, that  male  and  female  are  not  only  the  vitalizing  forces  of 
all  created  things,  but  are  actually  the  primary  cause  of  all  mo- 
tion— all  existence . 

And  therefore,  to  say  that  God,  who  is  Spirit  or  Essence,  is  the 
very  Esse  of  the  two  life  powers,  or  principles,— male  and  female, 
— is  but  to  state  as  self-evident  a position  as  to  say  that  a thing 
that  is,  does  exist.  For  it  is  the  same  thing,  whether  we  say 
God  is  Male  and  Female , or  that  Male  and  Female  is  God  ! ! 

Not  only  was  the  natural  man — Adam — the  image  of  God , 
but  he  was  also  the  image  or  “ figure  of  him  ” — Christy  the 
Spiritual  Man — “ that  was  to  come,  ” and  of  his  order — the  new 
creation.  (See  Eom.  v.  14.) 

The  natural  order  is  first  ; then  the  spiritual.  Adam  and  Eve 
were  the  head  of  the  natural  or  generative  creation ; and  *they 
built  up  their  order  by  the  power  of  procreation.  This  is  the 
rudimental  or  first  stage  of  being.  Then  comes,  in  due  season, 
the  next  stage  ; to  usher  in  and  establish  which,  wTas  the  work  of 
the  Messiah,  so  long  looked  for,  so  longexpected  ; then  rejected; 
and  still  but  little  understood. 

Christ  was  not  Gocl , neither  was  he  a natural  man  or  woman. 
Jesus  w as  not  the  Christ . But  Christ  was  a created  Being , who 
was  commissioned  from  a world  nearer  to  God  than  is  this  world, 
and  more  spiritual,  to  effect  the  redemption  and  resurrection  of 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


19 


the  human  race.  He  first  raised  one  man,  and  then  in  due  time 
one  woman,  into  the  elements  whence  himself  came ; and  thereby 
laid  the  foundationof  the  new  and  spiritual  order,  which  is  above 
the  natural  or  earthly  and  generative  order. 

In  which  spiritual  order,  the  male  and  female  are  regenerated 
and  redeemed  from  the  earth ; and  thus  they  become  resurrected 
and  spiritualized.  Their  procreative  powers  and  faculties  are 
no  more  destroyed  than  are  their  other  senses  and  faculties.  But 
their  whole  being  is  elevated  from  the  earthly  into  the  heavenly 
sphere  ; in  which  they,  by  the  joint  word  of  their  testimony,  can 
beget  and  bring  forth  souls  of  the  natural  order,  as  spiritual 
offspring,  in  the  image  of  the  second  Adam  and  Eve , who  was 
the  “ Lord  from  Heaven,  a quickening  Spirit , ” even  as  Jesus 
was  thus  begotten  at  his  baptism,  and  then  travelled  to  the  new 
birth  in  Christ. 

As  was  the  first  man — Adam  and  Eve, — who  were  of  the  earth 
earthy,  and  who  begat  and  brought  forth  a natural  and  earthly 
offspring;  so  are  they  who  are  earthly:  they  also  beget  and 
bring  forth  an  earthly  posterity,  and  in  so  doing,  “ sin  after  the 
similitude  of  Adam’s  transgression.  ” 

And,  as  was  the  heavenly  man, — the  second  Adam  and  Eve,— 
who  procreate  a spiritual  offspring ; so  are  they  who  are  heav- 
enly— their  spiritual  posterity — and  who  also  procreate  souls  to 
God  in  the  spiritual  order. 

* The  first  man  redeemed  from  the  earth  was  Jesus. 

• The  first  woman  redeemed  in  like  manner  was  Ann  Lee. 

Christ  said,  “ I am  the  resurrection,  ” and  that  “ in  the  re- 
surrection they  neither  marry  nor  are  given  in  marriage.  ’’  Con- 
sequently, those  who  are  in  Christ,  or  in  the  Christ  order,  have 
become  “ new  creatures,  ” and  have  risen  in  the  resurrection, 
where  there  is  neither  marrying  nor  being  given  in  marriage,  and 
where  “ it  is  good  for  a man  not  to  touch  a woman.  ” 

» Jesus  was  not  baptized  with  the  Christ  Spirit  until  he  was  thirty 
years  of  age  ; and  then  it  became  his  life.  “ Christ  lived  in  him.b 


20 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


From  that  time,  it  led,  governed,  guided,  and  finally  raised  him 
into  the  spiritual , — Christ, — or  resurrection  element.  In  which 
element,  he  was  a Captain  to  lead  and  guide,  and  go  before  all 
other  souls ; — a Pattern  for  them  to  copy  after,  that,  as  he  was, 
so  might  they  be  in  this  world. 

Jesus  was  the  first  born  of  many  brethren,  who  must  all  be 
begotten  and  brought  forth  by  spiritual  parents,  in  the  same  way 
and  manner  that  himself  had  been  ; and  then  he  will  “ not  be 
ashamed  to  call  them  brethren.  ” 

It  thus  appears  that  Christ  was  an  invisible  Spirit,  whom 
those  who  sinned  could  neither  know  nor  see;  nor  could  any 
man  call  him  Lord,  except  by  the  revelation  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Even  the  chosen  twelve  did  not  know  him  until  he  was  revealed 
unto  them. 

No  one  can  possibly  avoid  being  confused  in  his  ideas,  in  reading 
the  history  of  the  doings  and  sayings  of  Jesus  Christ , as  were  the 
Jews,  and  also  as  even  the  Apostles  themselves  were,  unless 
they  understand  and  bear  in  mind  that,  sometimes,  Jesus  spoke 
in  his  own  name  as  a man  of  earth,  and,  at  others,  in  the  name 
of  Christ , who  “ came  down  from  heaven:"  all  his  words  are 
e<  spirit  and  life .” 

It  therefore  requires  a deeper  revelation  than  any  of  the  in- 
spired writers,  or  than  the  Apostles,  were  blessed  with,  to  under- 
stand the  Scriptures. 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


21 


SECTION  IY. 

CHRIST  IN  THE  ORDER  OF  MALE  AND  FEMALE  COMBINED, 
AGREEABLE  TO  THE  TYPE  OF  THE  FIRST  MAN. 

The  question  may  be  asked  : If  Christ  be  the  Son  of  God,  the 
second  Adam , the  Lord  from  heaven,  of  whom  the  first  Adam 
was  a figure, — Where  is  the  second  Eve , the  Bride  ? 

Answer.  It  is  according  to  the  figure  when  “ their  name  was 
called  Adam ,”  before  the  woman  was  separated.  So  was  the 
Christ  when  they  first  descended  in  the  form  of  a dove  from 
heaven,  and  lighted  upon  Jesus. 

To  this  important  fact  we  have  the  clear  testimony  of  Christ’s 
witness, — John, — whos.ays  “ Ye  yourselves  bear  me  witness,  that 
I said,  I am  hot  the  Christ ; but  that  I am  sent  before  him,  to 
bear  witness  of  him  ; ” adding,  “ He  that  hath  the  Bride  is  the 
Bridegroom.  But  the  friend  of  the  Bridegroom,  who  standeth 
and  heareth  him,  rejoiceth  greatly  because  of  the  Bridegoom’s 
voice.  This  my  joy  therefore  is  fulfilled.  He  must  increase; 
but  I must  decrease.  He  that  cometh  from  above  is  above  all  A 
(John  iii.  28,  29.) 

Bid  Jesus  come  from  above ? Nay  ! “ He  was  made  of  a 

woman  ;”  “ made  under  the  law,” — born  in  a stable . “ He” 

(Jesus)  “that  is  of  the  earth,  is  earthy;  and  speaketh  of  the 
earth.11  “He”  (Christ)  “that  cometh  from  heaven  is  above  all;  and 
what  he  hath  seen  and  heard , that  he  testifieth ;”  as  he  said,  “ I 
proceeded  forth  and  came  from  God!1  (John,  viii.  42.) 

Here,  then,  we  have  the  testimony  of  John,  that  this  was  the 
Christ,  the  Bridegroom ; and  that  the  Bride  was  with  him.  He 
already  uhath  the  Bride  \ ’ which  Bride  had  yet  to  be  mani- 
fested in  a chosen  vessel  of  her  own  order, — a female  whom  God 


22 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


would,  in  the  time  appointed,  prepare  and  raise  up  for  that  very 
purpose. 

This  would  be  the  second  appearing  of  Christ ; and  this  is  the 
reason  ivliy  there  must  of  necessity  be  a second  appearing. 

Th q first  Adam  made  his  second  appearing  in  Eve,  the  mother 
of  all  living.  The  second  Adam  must  needs  do  the  same,  by  ap- 
pearing the  second  time  in  a second  Eve,  the  Mother  of  all  liv- 
ing in  the  neiv  creation ; or  evidently  the  figure  would  not  be 
fulfilled. 

And,  like  as  there  was  no  natural  offspring,  until  after  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  first  Eve  ; so  neither  could  there  be  any  spiri- 
tual offspring,  or  true  Christians , “sons  and  daughters  of 
God,”  until  after  the  appearing  of  the  second  Eve , in  and 
through  a natural  woman , even  as  the  first  appearing  of  Christ 
was  in  and  through  a natural  man . 

Therefore  it  is  our  province  to  testify  to  mankind,  that  Christ 
has  made  “ his  scco?id  appearance,’’  in  and  through  the  female 
order,  “ without  sin  unto  salvation,  to  those  who  look  for  him,” 
as  assuredly  as  he  ever  made  his  first  appearance  in  and  through 
the  mole  order  eighteen  centuries  ago. 

And,  in  so  doing,  we  explain  why  the  primitive  Christians 
only  saw  things  “ as  through  a glass  darkly/'  “knew  but  in 
part/’ and  could  only  prophesy  of  the  other  “part”: — why 
they  cried  “Abba,  Father  ” by  the  spirit  of  adoption  only,  and 
not  as  real  sons  and  daughters: — [they,  being  only  “a  kind  of 
first  fruits/’  were  “ groaning  within  themselves,  and  ivaiting  for 
the  manifestation  of  the  sons  (and  daughters)  of  God,”  in  the  fu- 
ture]:— and  why  all  the  doctrines  of  real  Christianity,  revealed 
in  that  day,  have  been  either  perverted,  entirely  lost  sight  of, 
or  are  rendered  of  none  effect,  as  to  ft  salvation  of  the  soul 
from  sin,  or  of  the  body  from  physical  suffering,  by  antichristian 
traditions  and  commentaries. 


SECOND  APPEARING  OF  CHRIST. 


23 


Also,  we  render  an  intelligent  reason,  even  to  the  Material- 
ist, as  to  why  there  had  to  be  two  appearings  of  Christ  at  all, 
and  we  show  how,  and  in  what  way  and  manner,  these  two  ap- 
pearings could  and  have  taken  place. 

In  conclusion,  we  say,  if  the  people  called  Shakers  do  not  ex- 
hibit and  show  forth,  with  an  increase , before  all  men,  the  faith, 
spirit,  doctrines,  and  principles  of  the  primitive  Church,  tegether 
with  power  over  evil,  (in  their  own  souls,)  let  that  decide  the 
whole  question.  % 

But  if  they  do  give  incontrovertible  evidence  of  living  in  pos- 
session of  all  these  spiritual  gifts  and  graces,  and  also  of  having 
that  love  one  to  another  which  puts  beyond  a doubt  their  rela- 
tionship to  “ the  Author  and  ” note  the  “ Finisher  ” of  the  true 
and  pure  Christian  faith,  (by  which  love,  he  foretold  that  all 
men  would  be  enabled  to  “ know  ’’  his  disciples  in  his  second 
appearing ;)  then , in  that  case,  though,  notwithstanding  the 
words  and  arguments  which  wTe  have  set  before  you,  in  the  fore- 
going pages,  ye  believe  not  that  Christ  has  made  his  second  ap- 
pearance, yet,  we  still  ask  you  to  believe  us  for  the  very  c<  works' 
sake.”  If  Christ  have  come,  but  has  done  no  works  that  evi- 
dence the  fact  of  his  coming  to  the  children  of  men,  then  they 
do  not  sin  in  not  believing  and  receiving  him. 

But,  if  he  have  done  the  works,  (in  and  by  his  people,)  which 
no  other  man  ever  did,  then  is  there  “ no  cloak  ” for  those  who 
see  and  know  it,  for  not  closing  in  with  and  obeying  the  greatest 
manifestation  of  truth  that  has  ever  been  made  upon  the  earth. 

And  now  we  close,  with  feelings  of  love  and  kindness  towards 
all  our  fellow-creatures,  however  much  they  may  differ  from  us 
in  works,  or  upon  this  or  any  other  subject ; being  confident,  that 
time,  and  the  inevitable  course  of  events,  will  clearly  and  satis- 
factorily demonstrate  the  entire  truth  of  the  above  testimony. 


24 


SECOND  APPEARING  OP  CHRIST. 


And  that  Holy  and  Eternal  Mother  Wisdom  will  yet  be  fully 
revealed  and  made  known  to  all  rational  intelligent  souls,  wheth- 
er in  or  out  of  their  mortal  bodies  ; 

And  also,  that  then  will  the  first-born  Daughter, — ■“  Wisdom,” 
the  Heavenly  Mother  of  the  new  creation  of  God, — the  spirit- 
ual  order , be  “ justified  of  all  her  children  ” in  Zion,  who,  by 
words  and  works,  have  borne  faithful  witness  to  her  existence  p 
and  appearance,  to  redeem  the  lost  sons  and  daughters  of  earth. 


